Get The Party Started!
Members of AutoMatic 80’s headlining at OVH
It’s time to dust off the
shell suit, fishnet stockings
and shoulder pads and
take a musical time trip
with New Zealand’s
leading eighties touring
show AutoMatic 80s, at
the 2018 Ocean Vine
Hop at Pollard Park on
24 November.
STORY BY KAT PICKFORD
But you won’t be hearing any cheesy 80s hits,
says dynamic frontman Justin Maclaren. Only
the best new romantic and new wave hits by
Blondie, Billy Idol, The Pretenders, Simple Minds,
INXS, David Bowie, Frankie Goes to Hollywood
and many more.
“We never fail to get everyone singing and
dancing, it’s always a lot of fun and everyone
goes home voiceless with sore calves from
jumping around.”
Justin who also writes music for pop-synth band
thE.brOken, started off his musical career in a
covers band with his brothers in Christchurch in
the mid-80s and remains heavily influenced by
the likes of Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet.
“I love that sound from the 80s - most
specifically all the synth sound that was coming
out when I was in my 20s,” he says.
“Artists threw down their guitar in favour for
synthesisers which they actually didn’t know
how to play, so they got creative and really
developed that characteristic 80s synth pop
sound that people who were around back
then know and love.”
Justin is not the only band member to hail from
a musical family - his wife, vocalist Pearl Runga
who also plays keyboard, is sister of Bic and Boh
Runga. According to Boh who was a founding
member of Automatic 80s (then called Amez
Amez) in 1985, Pearl has the best voice of the
three sisters.
Pearl says she adores the camaraderie of
traveling with the band and production team.
“There’s a lot of hilarious banter and ribbings,
but no one would dare pick on me - I’ve got a
solid left hook,” she says.
“Jokes aside, it certainly is a massive team effort
and our production team do very long hours for
each show to ensure the audience gets the best
sound and visuals. When we are on stage, it’s
simply magic!”
Pearl is also from Christchurch, and is looking
forward to returning to Blenheim after 20 years
to see if it is as “charming and picturesque” as
she remembers it.